Rob Illingworth
Name; Rob Illingworth
Job title; Service Development Librarian, Local History- KCC Libraries, Registration & Archives.
(from 01/06/15: Community Heritage Services Officer- KCC Libraries, Registration & Archives.)
A brief explanation of your partner role and how Kent Libraries, Registration & Archives will support the Peace Fields Project?
If you explore the extensive local history collections of Kent Libraries, Registration & Archives you will find evidence of how the First World War touched and continues to touch all Kent communities. For the Peacefields project, we would especially like to help the project participants explore selected primary sources to find evidence of the impact of the war on Kent school communities. We will visit 5 project-hub schools to help with this work.
Why do you feel the PFP is important to young people and Kent Libraries, Registration & Archives?
The Peace Fields Project gives an opportunity for our staff, library volunteers & project participants to explore & highlight our First World War history resources & to link them with a dynamic programme of commemoration. In Kent, we have examples of post-war local commemorative schemes encompassing memorial sports fields, school sports pavilions and charity sports competitions etc. So it is imaginative & poignant that the young people involved in the Peacefields Project will renew the links between First World War commemoration & active sport. This will be powerfully symbolised through dedicating their own 21st century Peace Fields & through twinning these with the Flanders Peace Field.
Contact: Robert.Illingworth@kent.gov.uk
Rosalind Meredith
Name; Roz Meredith
Job title; Learning Officer, Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery
A brief explanation of your partner role and how Maidstone Museum will support the Peace Fields Project?
We have a vast range of artefacts and resources at the Museum and are fortunate enough to have a collection of First World War objects that we are able to use with children and students. We are excited about being involved in the Peacefields project to support students in their understanding and empathy of this major time in recent history. We will host the 5 hub schools at the museum over 5 half days, so they can take part in a workshop run by an educational re-enactment group – “They Shall Grow Not Old …” (www.theyshallgrownotold.org.uk) focusing on the lives of soldiers during the First World War. This will include the use of and handling of real artifacts from the time.
Why do you feel the PFP is important to young people and Maidstone Museum?
The Peacefields Project is an opportunity for the Learning Team to be involved in a worthwhile project linking the resources we have available with a key commemorative event in Kent. The project gives opportunities to young people to explore and experience key moments of the First World War through the use of stories, artefacts and sport. Those involved in the Peacefields project will have the opportunity to connect with the past through the medium of sport linked to historical artefacts. The opportunity given to students is a positive reinforcement of events in our history that should not be forgotten.
Contact: Rosalindmeredith@maidstone.gov.uk
Emma Hanna
Name; Dr Emma Hanna
Job title; Co-Investigator, Gateways to the First World War
Gateways to the First World War is one of five Centres for Public Engagement with the Centenary of the First World War. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and based at the University of Kent, Gateways comprises a team of historians who specialise in the history of 1914-1918. The main objective of Gateways is to engage the public with the history of the First World War through various events such as study days and conferences, public lectures and workshops, and supporting organisations who are running activities or research projects related to the First World War.
Gateways is very happy to be involved with the National Children’s Football Alliance (NCFA) as a project partner in the Peace Fields Project. Our role will be to organise a study session at the University of Kent on both the war more generally and sport 1914-1918, incorporating a lecture by one of our specialist historians and a workshop on historical sources specifically tailored to the project foci of the schools attending the event.
Gateways is delighted to assist the NCFA in its role within the Peace Fields project as we believe that it has the potential to enhance knowledge of the reality of the conflict greatly and encourage young people to consider closely their own role as citizens.
For more information please see our website: www.gatewaysfww.org.uk
Contact: E.L.Hannah@greenwich.ac.uk
Name: Ruth Cavender
Job title: Learning Officer, War Memorials Trust
A brief explanation of your partner role and how the War Memorials Trust will support the Peace Fields Project?
War Memorials Trust (WMT) is the national charity that works for the protection and conservation of war memorials in the UK. It provides advisory and advocacy services, financial assistance for repair and conservation through grant schemes and is a key referral point for all issues regarding war memorials.
WMT also aims to educate young people, the next generation of war memorial custodians, about the history and significance of war memorials through its Learning Programme which provides teaching materials for schools, project ideas for youth groups and clubs and offers visits to schools and youth groups to allow young people to participate in talks and lessons about key war memorial related issues. WMT supports the Peace Fields Project’s efforts to engage young people with remembrance, commemoration and the values to teamwork and comradeship. WMT will work collaboratively with the project to promote this.
Why you feel the PFP is important to young people and WMT?
As the First World War moves beyond living memory education, commemorative events and projects like the Peace Fields Project are vital in ensuring the events of the war continue to be learned about and remembered and, in turn, that our war heritage is protected.
In particular WMT recognises that it is crucial that young people, tomorrow’s war memorial custodians, understand the importance of our war memorial heritage and develop a wider knowledge of the reasons for remembrance. The Peace Fields Project is a wonderful opportunity to deepen understanding of the events around the 1914 Christmas Truces and in doing contribute to a legacy of remembrance. By using sport as a starting point for learning the Peace Fields Project has potential to engage many young people in particular and create a genuine, lasting interest among the next generation. The encouragement of regular sporting events will provide an enjoyable and accessible way for young children to begin to understand the First World War and particularly the events of the 1914 Christmas Truce. WMT hopes that this will become part of a wider interest and participation in commemoration and war memorial protection and is keen to work with the project to ensure this.
For more information please visit our website: http://www.warmemorials.org/
Contact: Ruth@warmemorials.org